Everyday Heroes: 'Broken heart' pumps new life into neighborhood

FONTANA - Ever since Jacqueline Williams was a little girl growing up in St. Louis, she couldn't stand to see people in need.

"It broke my heart," said Williams, a 59-year-old pastor at the Good Samaritan A.M.E. Zion Church in Fontana.

"There were always children hungry in our neighborhood; I'd pick up kids for church and knew they hadn't eaten. We'd always feed them when we got to church. At least they would have had something good to eat that day."

Williams, her husband, Jonathan, and their grandson, Devin, 19, moved to California about 12 years ago.

Although Williams has a bachelor's degree in education and had taught in middle school, she felt a pull toward spiritual ministry.

The family immediately joined the Good Samaritan church, and Williams soon became an assistant pastor.

"I am still teaching, I'm just not in a classroom," said Williams, who is an ordained minister.

"I always loved serving God and knew he had a special plan for me. At the time, I just didn't know what it was."

Williams' passion became feeding the hungry. She spearheaded a twice-a-year holiday food giveaway, which turned into a monthly event eight years ago.

On the fourth Saturday of each month, Good Samaritan church offers a hot meal, enough groceries for a week and quality, gently used clothing to anyone who shows up - no strings attached.

"We let them come free - we don't preach to them and they don't have to come in to listen to anything," she said. "We feel that they'll see God in our giving."

Williams as well as her assistant pastor, the Rev. William Giden, and church members feed and clothe about 40 people each month - no small feat considering that total is 10 more than the church's congregation.

Donations of food and clothing are always appreciated, but the church could never accomplish its monthly ministry without a partnership with Pomona's No Empty Table, a similar food distribution effort.

"We go there on the third Saturday of the month and help them bag their food and they give enough food for us to give out," said Williams, who became Good Samaritan's pastor three years ago.

Williams arrives at 7 a.m. for each food giveaway. It's important to her to take an active role in the event, helping whereever she's needed and offering a friendly face to those who may not be use to seeing many.

For its Dec. 22 food giveaway event, Williams is hoping for community donation of turkeys and toys.

"There's such joy in helping others," she said.

"Some people are so grateful just knowing they'll be having a good meal that night."

While there may be other creature comforts and interior fix-ups that the Good Samaritan church could use, Williams prayers go for none of those.

Her thoughts are of others.

"I just wish so much we could do this more than once a month," she said.

"In this economy, when so many people are out of work, are losing their homes and are homeless, the least we can do is give them something to eat."